Norwegian researchers ask 'What exactly is M.E.?'
December 10, 2015
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Norwegian researchers say patients with ME have more severe symptoms than those with chronic fatigue syndrome, but better mental health.
Category: Research
Study finds evidence of downregulated immune system in ME/CFS patients
December 7, 2015
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Researchers analysed 100 blood samples from the Solve ME/CFS Biobank of patients and results included finding 3 clusters. The cluster of Interleukin-16 (IL-16), IL-7 and VEGF-A was both significantly downregulated and tightly correlated with each other. IL-16 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and the reduction shown may indicate immunodeficiency. IL-7 is indispensable for the creation and survival of immune cells (T cells, B cells, NK cells). VEGF-A: stimulates new blood vessel and muscle growth.
James Coyne to PLOS One: Don’t let PACE make a mockery of data sharing
December 6, 2015
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Professor James Coyne yesterday posted online his letter to PLOS One complaining about the PACE authors’ failure to provide him with data from a paper published in the journal. Coyne’s letter was premature because he had been misinformed that he would receive a response within 20 days rather than 20 working days. However, it indicated
Study proposes new name, definition and biomarkers
December 5, 2015
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Researchers from Australia’s Deakin University have proposed a new name for ME/CFS: Neuro-Inflammatory and Oxidative Fatigue. An Australian university is suggesting a new name to replace ME/CFS. They studied 196 subjects with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CDC criteria) and 83 with chronic fatigue and found two distinct groups.
Complain about NIH's Claims on CBT and GET
November 30, 2015
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Medline Plus, NIH’s web site for patients, just published an article from health news distributor Healthday, based on the recent, discredited U.K. PACE study. The new article states that “cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise therapy are among the best available treatments for extended relief” of ME/CFS. Fortunately, if you want to file a complaint about this article, it’s super easy.
James Coyne declares “moral equivalent of war” on PACE
November 18, 2015
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James Coyne gives a public talk on PACE Trial In a public talk in Edinburgh on Monday, psychologist Professor James Coyne declared the “moral equivalent of war” on the practices and assumptions that, he said, have allowed the “bad science” of the PACE trial to go unchallenged by scientists and the media. The authors of
Call for HHS to Investigate PACE
November 16, 2015
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Call for HHS to Investigate PACE Recently, journalist David Tuller, DrPH, published an investigative report outlining serious concerns with the conduct, analyses, and results of U.K.’s £5 million PACE trial for chronic fatigue syndrome. PACE investigated the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) Since then, other researchers and journalists have
Scientists demand independent analysis of PACE trial
November 13, 2015
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Virology Blog today published an open letter from six leading scientists calling on The Lancet to seek an independent re-analysis of data from the controversial PACE trial. The Lancet published the first PACE trial paper in 2011, which examined psychological and exercise therapies aimed at getting chronic fatigue syndrome patients more active and was based
Take this preliminary survey on treatment benefits and harms
November 12, 2015
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I have been looking at this tantalizing survey by the Autism Research Institute for a few years now. It aggregates 27,000 parents’ reports on the effects of pharmaceutical and alternative interventions on autistic children. It’s not a clinical trial or a substitute for doctors’ advice. It uses subjective, self-reported measures (which we all know are problematic). It’s
PACE trial's 'sister' study overlooked
November 10, 2015
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In his Virology blog, David Tuller examines results of ‘sister’ to the PACE trial